John Bolton just did a complete 180 on his Russia stance after meeting with Putin
- National security adviser John Bolton once said Russia's election interference was "truly an act of war" against the US, and that a policy based on trusting Russia was "doomed to failure."
- Bolton's tune changed completely after he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.
- He also dramatically departed from previous US policy when he said that the Trump administration would not recognize Russia's invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea.
- When confronted by a reporter about his shift on Russia, Bolton said he would not address the discrepancy.
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US national security adviser John Bolton once said that Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election was "an act of war" against the US and warned that the US could not trust Russia.
On Wednesday, he told the Russian leader: "We are most appreciative of your courtesy and graciousness."
Bolton's comments came after he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of a highly anticipated summit between Putin and US President Donald Trump in July.
Citing Kremlin spokesperson Yury Ushakov, the Russian state media outlet TASS reported Putin and Bolton discussed "strategic stability in the world, control over nuclear weapons and, in general, a disarmament dossier." Ushakov said they also discussed the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, North Korea, and the Iran nuclear deal.
Bolton and the Kremlin did not say whether he and Putin discussed Russia's election meddling. The Kremlin said the two men did not broach the subject of sanctions or the diplomatic spat between the US and Russia.
At a press conference held later in Moscow, Bolton said Moscow and Washington would announce the time and place of the Trump-Putin summit on Thursday. The presser was broadcast from the headquarters of the Russian state media outlet Interfax, instead of from the US embassy in Moscow.
Bolton reverses course on Ukraine and Crimea
The biggest moment from Wednesday's presser came when Wall Street Journal reporter Anatoly Kurmanaev asked Bolton whether Trump recognizes Russia's annexation of Crimea.
"That's not the position of the United States," Bolton replied.
The comment marks a dramatic departure from the US's previous stance on the matter, which is rooted in punishing Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea.
In addition to raising questions about whether the Trump administration's stance on Ukraine will impact its sanctions on Russia, Bolton's comment could also mean Trump will double down on his calls for Russia to be readmitted to the G7. Russia was kicked out of the alliance after it invaded Ukraine in 2014.
Trump first brought up his proposal during the annual G7 summit in Canada earlier this month, also reportedly suggesting Crimea was part of Russia because the people there spoke Russian. Bolton said Wednesday that Trump and Putin will likely discuss the matter when they meet in July.
Another reporter asked Bolton whether he felt it was appropriate for Trump and Putin to meet given that Russia has not changed any of its behavior in the past.
He was also asked whether Trump would broach Russia's election interference and allegations that a Russian missile was responsible for downing Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014.
"You yourself said a national security policy based on faith that regimes like Russia will honor their commitments is doomed to failure," the reporter replied.
Bolton said that he would not address previous statements he had made and reiterated that Trump will "raise the full range of issues" between the US and Russia when the presidents meet in July.
A Bloomberg News reporter later asked Bolton whether he was "suspicious" that Putin arrived on time to the meeting and treated Trump's emissary "with more respect" than he gives other world leaders.
"That's the hardest question I've been asked here today," Bolton quipped. "I could either agree with you that he wasn't late, or I could tell you when he actually arrived and be accused of saying that he was late."
As for "the meaning of [this meeting] with respect to ... anyone else that you mentioned, I think I'll just duck the question," Bolton added.